Primary Bank, which celebrated its grand opening Friday as the first new New Hampshire bank in seven years, expects to build three additional branches and reach at least $300 million in assets in the...

Amendment would exempt NH from tax

The amendments include one Sheehan filed, co-sponsored by Ayotte, that would exempt businesses in states that don't impose sales taxes.

Another by Shaheen would restrict sales-tax states from collecting taxes in non-sales tax states like New Hampshire.

If the amendments are approved, and the legislation becomes law, Web-based businesses in states like New Hampshire would not have to collect sales taxes on transactions originating from sales-tax states.

"My amendment would exempt states like New Hampshire from this bill's unnecessary red tape, bureaucracy, and economic consequences and I'm hopeful that the Senate will give it the consideration it deserves," Shaheen said.

Ayotte took to the Senate floor Monday night to oppose the legislation as the Senate voted 74-20 to end a filibuster. A vote on the bill was expected Wednesday or Thursday. She filed five amendments to the bill on Wednesday, including one that would require that any new revenue collected by a state pursuant as part of the Internet sales tax legislation be used to lower the income or business tax burden in that state.

"This legislation amounts to taxation without representation," Ayotte said. "I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure our online businesses don't have to collect sales taxes for other states."

Supporters of the measure, called The Marketplace Fairness Act, say it is necessary to level the playing field between online merchants that don't have to charge sales taxes, and brick-and-mortar stores that do. New Hampshire is one of only five states that do not have a sales tax.